Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
3/15/2021 Antimicrobials Grant Superpowers to Food Packaging
https://www.packagingdigest.com/print/26659 1/4
FOOD SAFETY
Consumer desire for longer shelf life and less preservatives have spurred advances in antimicrobial
packaging. Often antimicrobial packaging agents are GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe), “clean
label,” and only added when needed.
Packaging Technology and Research
Antimicrobials Grant Superpowers to Food Packaging
Packaging that releases antimicrobials into foods can boost shelf life, reduce waste,
and combat villainous mold and nasty pathogens.
Claire Sand | Mar 15, 2021
3/15/2021 Antimicrobials Grant Superpowers to Food Packaging
https://www.packagingdigest.com/print/26659 2/4
Antimicrobial packaging releases antimicrobials into foods such as minimally processed deli meat
and seafood, fresh and slack (i.e., frozen then thawed) fruits and vegetables, cheese, and baked
goods. This release reduces food safety risk by inhibiting mold and nasty pathogens such as
Campylobacter, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella.
By selecting packaging materials with a specific glass transition (T , an amorphous to crystalline
state transition) that synchronizes antimicrobial release with microbial growth temperatures,
antimicrobials can be "automatically" metered as needed over a product's shelf life.
Yes, there is an array of choices! To assess if products and packaging can benefit from antimicrobial
packaging, an initial screening is critical. Antimicrobials used in food packaging include
bacteriocins, enzymes, essential oils, selected polymers, metal ions, and inherently antimicrobial
polymers. These antimicrobials and screening criteria for implementing viable antimicrobials are
discussed.
Types of Antimicrobials
Bacteriocins and Enzymes
Nisin, natamycin, lacticin, pediocin, lysozyme, lactoferrin, and lactoperoxidase have antimicrobial
activity. Nisin is the most commonly used bacteriocin, often on dairy products and minimally
processed vegetables. Nisin is GRAS and effective against Clostridium, Listeria monocytogenes,
Lactobacillus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Micrococcus.
Essential Oils and Extracts
The use of essential oils in packaging is increasingly popular due to their consumer-preferred “clean
label” status. Essential oils that impart antimicrobial activity include thymol, carvacrol, and eugenol
within thyme, clove, cinnamon, basil, oregano, turmeric, sage, and lemongrass. Fresh and
processed meat, seafood, poultry, and fresh and cut-produce use in antimicrobial packaging. To
prevent off-flavors and to stay below regulatory limits, only 0.2%–2% essential oil is viable. Due to
this, combinations of essential oils and extracts are often used.
Metal Ions and Nanoparticles
g
3/15/2021 Antimicrobials Grant Superpowers to Food Packaging
https://www.packagingdigest.com/print/26659 3/4
Silver and zinc metal ions and their nanoparticles — with a high surface area to volume ratio — are
viable for antimicrobial packaging use. The FDA has approved silver nitrate in foods with a limit of
0.017 mg/kg and 5% silver zeolite. And a maximum food migration limit of 0.05 mg/kg is approved in
the EU.
However, the associated environmental and biological concerns using nano-sized compounds is the
subject of much legislation.
Antimicrobial Polymers
Polymers that provide antimicrobial properties include carbon chains from 8 to 12 and chitosan.
These are often combined with the other antimicrobial agents mentioned to provide expanded array
of antimicrobial properties.
Implementing Antimicrobial Packaging
The field of antimicrobial packaging involves a complex array of choices. An initial product-specific
screening to determine the viability of the antimicrobial packaging includes:
• Capability of existing packaging to retain and release antimicrobials;
• Antimicrobial efficacy toward specific microbes;
• Temperature of use;
• Shelf-life requirements;
• Regulatory limits;
• Sensory limits;
• Value chain analysis of benefit;
• Cost profile;
• Impact on the environment;
• Impact on compostability;
• Opportunity for intellectual property or trade secrets
Once viable antimicrobial options are ranked, product-specific testing is needed to assess and refine
the selected antimicrobial technology. Antimicrobial packaging is being “rediscovered” as a solution
to provide consumers with “clean label” food with a longer shelf life.
3/15/2021 Antimicrobials Grant Superpowers to Food Packaging
https://www.packagingdigest.com/print/26659 4/4
Source URL: https://www.packagingdigest.com/food-safety/antimicrobials-grant-superpowers-food-packaging
Claire Sand , PhD, has 30+ years of experience in industry and academia. She's owner
of Packaging Technology and Research and Gazelle Mobile Packaging and is an Adjunct
Professor, CalPoly, Michigan State University, and the University of Minnesota. Her email
